Butterfly Garden at Heritage Park
Eupatorium purpureum, asclepias tuberosa, asclepias syriaca, panicum virgatum, solidago speciosa, monarda didyma, clethra alnifolia, achillea millefolium, aster novae-angliae, echinacea purpurea, solidago flexicaulis, liatris spicata, coreopsis
The Butterfly Garden at Heritage Park in Mount Sinai is a 1000 sq. ft. pollinator garden located north of the ballfields at the base of the play knoll. It was planted in June 2014 by members of Girl Scout Troop 004 with help from Master Gardeners and community volunteers. The garden has a variety of native plants including those that host the monarch butterfly. The nectar plants attract many pollinators in addition to butterflies such as bees, wasps, moths, birds, and beetles. The garden bridge and dry river bed add visual interest to the landscape for human visitors, but are also helpful features for our butterfly friends. The bridge provides a windbreak that helps butterflies maintain their position. The river rocks allow the butterflies a place to rest, and provide a water source from rainwater collected between the stones. Plant markers help visitors identify each of the plants. We hope that the Butterfly Garden inspires others to learn about and plant natives in their own gardens.